On March 1, the United States Coast Guard formally becomes part of the Department of Homeland Security. Maine’s waterfront interests will be watching carefully as the agency balances its traditional marine safety and fisheries enforcement duties with the added responsibilities of countering terrorist threats in domestic waters. While the Coast Guard officially intends to maintain
Technical problems thwart Dimilin/lobster studies
A collaborative effort between fishermen and scientists to obtain conclusive data about the effect spraying for Brown Tail Moths has on Maine’s lobster population was thwarted this winter due to equipment failure at the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) in Boothbay. The problem occurred when a filter system broke down in tanks holding 100 lobsters
Financing with heart: One man’s unusual approach made a big difference
“He was a fisherman’s friend … Optimistic … The kind of guy who really makes an impact on people … He’d look you in the eye and never lie to you … He was Mr. Marine Finance … He was very well respected and admired by everyone … He was very social, with an outgoing
Newfoundland fishermen await cod closure decision
The future of what’s left of Newfoundland’s northern cod fishery remains uncertain as Robert Thibault, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), mulls over a plan to shut it down. His decision is expected in late March or early April, according to DFO communications advisor Sophie Galarneau. The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC), however, has
Parallel 44 Inefficiency: The lobster’s best friend
For years, marine scientists have been trying to unravel one of the greatest mysteries in American fisheries science: why, despite heavy fishing pressure, have our coast’s lobsters thrived while the stocks of so many other commercial species have collapsed? What has been missing from the federal lobster stock models that could have lead them for
From the Deck Winter Picnic
Our first winter in Maine was the coldest we have seen so far. The thermometer had scarcely crept above zero for a week, and on Saturday with a brisk Northwest breeze, needlelike crystals of ice formed on the surface of the bay. They drifted down with the wind and piled up on the shore making
Regional groups collaborate on cod tagging
There is consensus in the fishing and science communities that the distribution and movement of cod in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank and southern New England regions are not well understood and that greater insight into current distribution and migration patterns of Atlantic cod is needed as managers work to rebuild stocks. One way
CEI Loan Fund helps fishermen protect and improve access
Sixteen Sheepscot River lobstermen have banded together to ensure they have waterfront access now and in the future. Before September, 2002, each relied on public access at the Wiscasset municipal pier, where they felt they might be ousted at any time. But during last summer, they formed the North End Co-op, pooled the additional profits
Vinalhaven girls reach quarterfinals, say goodbye to old gym
It was standing room only in the Vinalhaven School gym on Feb. 11 for most exciting and important game of the girls’ season. After a final basket by senior Kim Walker at the buzzer for a one point win over Greater Portland Christian, the Vinalhaven girls’ high school team made the state tournament quarterfinals for
Atlantic Canada’s seal quota is going up
Seals arouse a wide variety of emotions in different groups of people, but the strong feeling toward these marine mammals by fishermen in Atlantic Canada is that they are keeping the devastated cod stocks from rebuilding by eating tons of juvenile cod. Harvesters who have been seeking a higher quota for the taking of seals